Lisa Cummings of LiveWellByDesign.net, WellProNet Member
Meet Lisa Cummings.
Lisa joined WellProNet when she was ready to transition out of her art director career and leverage her passion for health and healing into a new exciting business. Now she’s traded her daily commute and high-powered meetings for writing helpful newsletters, articles and giving presentations on the power of nutrition.
Here’s what she has to say about being a member of the Wellness Professional Network:
Health and Nutrition Coach
Karin
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband who also runs a successful coaching business.
What makes one wellness pro successful and another not so much?
In my opinion, there are a variety of variables to making more and creating an impact while helping people for a living.
In this short blog post, I share some things I learned from my life as a nutrition pro turned marketing wiz.
This may be especially helpful for those of you facing a challenge in your practice or simply experiencing some growing pains.
1. There are so many variables to success.
Marketing, mindset, money, organization, self motivation, how you use your time and more.
In time, and with deliberate focused attention, anyone can learn to master them all.
But it does take time and the willingness to experiment.
So try to be gentle with yourself.
This is true for your own business as well as for your clients’ success in your programs.
2. That’s why it’s impossible to take responsiblity for your clients’ results.
There are too many variables that are out of your control.
Just like I can’t give presentations and “close the deal” for my clients, you can’t eat the broccoli and go exercise for your clients.
What you can only guarantee and be responsible for is what you say you’re going to deliver.
Get clear on what aspects of your programs you are in control of delivering and what parts of the process are determined by your client’s rhythm of progress (see variables to success in #1). And be willing to articulate that at the beginning of the work with your clients. That way, everyone’s clear and no “pie-in-the-sky” promises are made. Good for you, good for your clients, and good for your biz.
3. It’s inevitable that your “stuff” will come up as you grow your business.
That’s why being in business for yourself in the holistic health and wellness field is like personal growth on steriods.
Whoever said making money in the life transformation field wasn’t spiritual never took their business seriously.
4. How you respond to your “stuff” makes all the difference.
You will be tested.
Do you really want this? Or do you like the idea of it?
Do you view the “no’s” you receive as rejection or valuable information and an opportunity to tweak your efforts?
The trick is to not make a big deal out of every speed bump you come across.
Everyone self-sabotages, everyone spins their wheels at times, everyone trys things that don’t work.
Try to lighten up about it as best you can.
It’s just part of the process.
5. Some people try to do more when things aren’t working.
But that’s not always the answer. Sometimes it’s the inner work that’s calling.
6. Some people try to meditate more when things aren’t working.
While valuable, these situations often require more consistent outer work and less thinking about it.
IE – Get into action.
You can’t have all action and no inner work.
You can’t have all inner work and no action.
The laws of nature requires relative balance.
7. It’s essential to do all the steps and everyone has their own rhythm to completing them.
You can’t skip learning the business side of your passion and getting out there.
Learning the business side includes choosing a niche, getting in front of people, building an email list, sending your newsletter regularly, and getting to know your target market (or tribe) so well you know them better than they do.
And despite this learning curve, at some point you have to say to yourself, you may never feel like you know enough and that’s okay, let’s get out there anyway.
Some practitioners as they near the phase of getting out there, sign up for more training, more coaching, in an effort to avoid the vulnerability of getting in front of their tribe, facing their fear of rejection and the temporary discomfort of asking to be paid for what they love to do.
And others get out there right away and have to circle back to figure out the marketing know-how.
My preference is to do both at the same time.
Whatever path you’re on, it’s okay. Everyone has their own rhythm for getting there.
The only way you won’t get there is by skipping the steps or trying to get everything perfect.
Just know that you can’t avoid the inevitable.
To your continued success,
Karin
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband who also runs a successful coaching business
Each week I send a 1-2 minute audio tip to members of the Wellness Professional Network.
Since I just hosted an entire 75-minute tele-training on “Avoiding Networking Turnoffs”, I thought to share one of the key concepts that I covered for making ALL of your networking activities really effective and totally authentic.
Listen to this 2-minute audio tip on the secret to getting people to help you grow your own business, by FIRST contributing to THEIR success, before making a request. (Thanks to speaker Jabez LaBret for coining this approach to networking!)
Here it is!
Having trouble with the audio player? Try this link.
To your success,
Karin
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband who also runs a successful coaching business
As wellness pros, we all have to network.
Some people attend a weekly networking meeting and others prefer a more intimate, one-on-one setting meeting with potential referral partners for tea. Knowing how to do this right can bring momentum to your practice. And when you do things the wrong way, you’ll get very little results. Who has time for that?
In July’s WellProNet tele-training I’ll be sharing my best practical tips and mindset insights for making your networking profitable, enjoyable and completely authentic.
We’ll cover:
- What are the turn offs you want to avoid when networking in groups or one-on-one (I’ve been on the receiving end of some bad networking, and been in some seriously awkward situations and I’ll share the behind the scenes of what works and what doesn’t)
- The secrets to inspiring someone to help your business grow (No, it’s not asking people “can I pick your brain?” HINT: That’s a turn off.)
- What to do when you’re at a networking function that doesn’t involve shaking everyone’s hands and forcing your business card upon others (whether you’re a networking natural or really nervous about it)
- Some very practical strategies that cost practically nothing and make you look like a total pro
- And some bonus resources for those of you who really want to super charge your networking an essential part of your practice success
This class is like giving you my Cliff Notes to 10 years of networking experience , and all the books I read and trainings I took ( I even won an “notable networker” award once). And believe me, I’m NOT one of the natural types who loves to chit chat with anyone and everyone. If I can do this, so can you.
This tele-training is for current members of WellPronet.org only.
Not a member yet? Click on the following link to find out if membership is right for you: http://wellpronet.org/whyjoin
We’d love to have you join us!
Can’t make the live call? No problem. WellProNet members receive a word-for-word transcript and audio recording of the monthly tele-trainings. So you can listen to the training on your own time. In fact, 75% of members access the membership resources on their own time, so you’re in good company.
Hope you decide to join us!
Karin
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of branding with archetypes.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network http://wellpronet.org as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband, Drew Rozell, who also runs a successful coaching business.
If you’re a wellness pro with clients in the corporate world or you serve the corporate world directly, take heed.
In this month’s issue of Inc Magazine, top small company workplaces were highlighted. These are companies do more than talk smack about creating a great company culture. From setting up inspiring environments that keep employees connected to the organization’s purpose, to sponsoring volunteer work, to greening their environments, and yes, to helping employees get and stay healthy.
Three specific companies opened their books and shared how “they keep morale high and blood pressure low with robust wellness programs.” According to Inc Magazine, 80% of the companies featured in the “top small business workplaces” offer wellness programs. “Some companies splurge on in-house workout facilities and basketball courts. Others keep costs low by bartering for healthy snacks.”
As a wellness pro, this is the kind of information you want to be aware of. Both for generating your own ideas and for when pitching your wellness programs to organizations. Your ability to sound relevant, current and lead your “thinking about hiring you conversations” is a skill set that sets the successful wellness pros apart.
You’ll notice a few things in this Inc Magazine feature:
- Companies need not spend a lot (they can barter for services – see Honest Tea’s examples a no-cost benefits including, honoring employees who set and achieve health goals at company meetings – Honest Tea’s “Wellness Awards”)
- Companies must subsidize the actions they want their employees to take (offering wellness programs and making employees pay out of their own pocket is significantly less effective)
- Companies can work with local businesses to provide perks to their employees at cost (See Honest Tea’s “purchase a bicycle at cost” program)
There are tons of ideas for wellness pros if you know how to look.
One idea that jumped out at me – If I were offering corporate wellness programs, I’d include a Corporate “Wellness Intranet” memberships (using something as simple as Groupsite.com or Ning.com) for companies that hired me to present or consult. That would allow me to stay in touch with employees and essentially attract clients from that ongoing relationship.
Take a look at this feature in Inc Magazine on “The Price of a Healthy Staff” and get inspired to get out there and lead the organization’s you work with to the results they want.
To your success,
Karin
About the Author and WellProNet.org: Karin Witzig Rozell has been teaching health and wellness professionals how to grow their business since 2003. She started as a nutrition counselor who knew a lot about nutrition, but not a whole lot about business and marketing. After learning some tough lessons she cracked the code and now her passion is transforming practitioners into profitable business owners using the power of authentic marketing strategies.
In 2009, she expanded her private practice and launched The Wellness Professional Network as the go-to place for practitioners to learn about making more money doing what they love. Karin lives in Upstate New York and works from home with her husband who also runs a successful coaching business
